Sunshine, flowers and a castle – a perfect hike

Sunday, April 07, 2013

My hike today was sooo lovely! It was everything a hike should be for me: lots of sunshine, cool but not cold, with lots of wild flowers and even a castle. Perfect.

It started outside Troissereux’s castle (built in the 15th and the 16th centuries). Its architecture is typically Renaissance.

Then I left the village and started walking through the fields. The sun was warm and it felt wonderful!

I saw my first butterfly of the year. It was telling me it is just the beginning of the warmer days!

And there were lots and lots of violas everywhere! I had never seen so many.

After I crossed a little hamlet and passed by a roadside cross, I was in the fields again.

One of the things I love when hiking is passing by a sign that says ‘Dead end’, and to continue walking!

The woods are just starting to wake up!

After crossing more fields and more woods, I was back in Troissereux. I had to cross the village to reach my car, and it was fun because it was ‘Brocante’ day (car boot/garage sale). The whole village was full of people browsing at all kinds of fun things, like bird cages...

... or plates with Emperor Napoleon painted on them!

Voilà! That was my hike today. I am feeling great tonight. Isn’t it amazing how fantastic a few hours of exercising and lots of sunshine can make you feel? I hope you are also having a beautiful weekend!

I made the most of all the fresh and 'pure' air today, as I am off on Saturday to one of the most polluted cities in the world, Cairo, Egypt. I am looking forward to meeting my wonderful colleagues there. A couple of them told me already that they will show me their city and take me to the nearby Pyramids, it will be wonderful! (And of course, I'll share my discoveries with you!!!)

QTEALADY20031
Claire, have had some things going on so I am catching up. Enjoyed reading your blog. I love the castles you show us and Brocante' Day could hold some wonderful finds. Flowers as always are beautiful. I know you will have wonderful pictures from Egypt!! Enjoy.....I am so excited for you!! June1334 days ago

BEWELL48
Your pictures are just lovely! It is a joy to go on the journeys with you by viewing virtually on the amazing Internet .......how our world has opened up to each other! Will look forward to your Egypt adventure!1336 days ago

ALIHIKES
Thanks for sharing your beautiful hike! I loved the spring flower photos, the green of the fields, and the old buildings. Very exciting that you are visiting Cairo! I love ancient architecture and history. 1336 days ago

BLOOMINGLENA
I could almost smell the beautiful flowers! haha! Thank you for sharing your spring hike! Lovely scenery full of colour and serenity! Have a safe trip to Cairo and have a good time there and of course take a lot of pictures for your next blog! I would love to travel to Egypt some time and I can't wait to do it through your great photos!Take care!1336 days ago

CRYSALLIS1
Looks like that there is hope that spring will come. When driving back from a conference I seen a winter storm warning posted for today. Thankfully just rainy and cold right now. Going to my camper Sunday for the day to get ready for the weekend. I'm going to crank up the heat and pretend it's spring. I'm looking forward to many lovely walks this summer.1337 days ago

LISALGB
"The woods are just beginning to wake up." I love that!!! So poetic! I always love to read your blogs and see your lovely pictures. You make me feel as if I have been right there with you the entire time.I hope you have a wonderful time in Cairo. Be safe and take lots of pictures (so I can visit there too, hahaha.)Lots of love!!1338 days ago

EFFIEANNIE
I love the woods in spring when the flowers are blooming and the trees are just waking up~lovely photos. I hope you have a wonderful time in Egypt. Can't wait to see the photos.1341 days ago

STRIVER57
looks lovely. yes, it's even astonishing how much better 20 min of nordic track makes me feel -- can't wait to be running outside again. or hiking one of these days. enjoy Cairo. i was there for a few days about 25 years ago!1341 days ago

INGMARIE
Thanks for sharing yet another great hike and photos.I see spring has finally arrived.Cairo and pyramids , hmm I am sooo jealous,I hope you will have a lovely time . Lots of sightseeing and just a little work.1341 days ago

BAKER1009
Thanks, as always, for sharing your hike with us Claire! Love the pictures! Especially love your comment regarding dead ends!Yes, the fresh air and especially the sunshine can do us so good! I plan on getting out today, as it's finally warm enough and not to windy to take baby out!

CHANTENAY
Your spring is WAY ahead of ours even though we're on roughly the same parallels. Our trees don't leaf out until the middle of May. The photos are beautiful as always, and I'm interested that there are garage sales in France too! Such a beautiful place, France.

NUOVAELLE
A beautiful almost-Spring hike for you this Sunday, Claire! I'm glad you had such a nice time and you feel so rejuvenated.I'm already looking forward to the Pyramids' blog! Have a safe trip and a wonderful time!1341 days ago

MARYJEANSL
I am so jealous of you because you live in an area where there are such beautiful walks! There is some natural beauty in this area, but it is of a very different kind - more desert-like and much less green. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures! I can't wait to read your take on Egypt.1341 days ago

KAREN91
You are truly a artist with a camera. I thank you for sharing your hikes and beautiful pictures with us. I can't wait to see Egypt through your eyes. We have citywide garage sales every spring! I didn't know they do that in France too! I hope you have a great week and a great trip to Egypt. 1341 days ago

MADAMES
How beautiful...I love the path that disappears over the hill, the crucifix and the violas. You are right...the sunshine and the exercise brings a smile! I love your expression about the woods waking up!

TATTER3
Love it as usual!!! You need to think about going into tourist blogging!!! You are so gifted!!! Love the countryside...took a minute to figure out what a boot sale was....we have 'trunks' in our cars. I would love to get my hands on those doilies and plates! Fun!!! Enjoy the tour of Egypt and be safe!!! Keep Sparkin'!!! 1341 days ago

CAPECODLIGHT
I'm so glad your hike gave you such a lift - endorphins and beauty do that, don't they? It is wonderful you share your photos - you transport me to belle France each time. Have a good trip to Egypt. I am glad you will get an insider's tour of Cairo. I'm sure it will offer many instances of stark beauty. Safe and happy travels!1341 days ago

MARITIMER3
Hi Claire - I had half a post written to you, but it disappeared! computers can be such frustrations. I wish I could have gone to the car-boot sale with you. I probably would have looked for old linens, which seem to be my weakness at rummage or antique sales. I always have great plans for them, even though I dislike ironing.

Your pictures are lovely. I especially like the old religious plaques, crosses, stones, etc. that can be found in Europe. I often spend a lot of time in old cemeteries, and have explored some wonderful ones in England, Scotland and the Netherlands, and especially remember the memorial park at Aberfan, Wales, where the slag heaps from the mine came down and buried part of the town and the elementary school.

Early spring, when trees are just beginning to leaf out, is my favourite time of year. I love it when you can still see the shape of the branches, but the new leaves are also opening. The shades of green are so new and innocent... that's maybe a strange way to describe a colour, but it's how they seem to me.

Your trip to Cairo sounds amazing - I'm so happy for you, and glad that you will be seeing it with with people who know the city. I'll be looking forward to reading all about it and seeing your pictures.

REGILIEH
Oh, how BEAUTIFUL!!!! My husband and I read it together as I knew he would love the pictures. I can't believe how still it was. The last picture with the reflection was so peaceful, an artist should paint your photos.

I would never choose to go to Cairo, Egypt but I am certainly looking forward to you sharing it with me. I can't wait but I also can't wait for you to get back home.

SONDRAJ20
Here in Florida we don't really have Spring so it's very nice to see the beautiful beginning of Spring in France. When I lived in Indiana the first signs of Spring were robins and Spring flowers like forsythia, tulips and daffodils. Do you have them in France too?1341 days ago

JACKIE542
So nice that you finally had a sunshiny Spring day. Really does make a big difference. Loved the castle, and of course the violas, pretty color. Egypt sounds exciting, not the pollution though. Look forward to pictures. Thank you for the wonderful Sunday hike, hope you have a great week. Jackie1341 days ago

LINDAK25
Looks like a nice day with that blue sky and sunshine. I can't believe you found a butterfly. It's beautiful, as are the flowers. I have violas in my front garden, they're a favorite of mine. I googled Troissereux Castle (your pictures were perfect). They are supposed to have wonderful gardens, especially rose gardens.

My daughter-in-law loves garage sales and flea markets. She always seems to find great buys. I tend to enjoy looking, but never seem to buy anything.1341 days ago

IDICEM
What a lovely spring hike! I'm glad that spring has finally arrived for you. Hope your Cairo trip goes well and that you bring back another travelogue for us. Thank you for sharing your beautiful day. 1341 days ago

TRUCKERWIFE2
Thank you for sharing your beautiful spring hike. It's been raining and cool here. No castles nearby. What I find facinating are the variety and quantity of crosses there. It's so refreshing. Also the differences in what you find in yard sales there. Here you see lots of clothes, books, cookware including lots of tupperware, some interesting ceramics, records that sort of thing. You don't see many doilies which I make sometimes or interesting birdcages like the ones you showed. Maybe they have things like that in a different part of the U.S. I can only speak of where I presently live. Can't wait for your new photos. You have no idea what other cultures are like until you see things through someone else's eyes and photo lens. Your pictures are interesting and your comments help me understand a world I'm unlikely to experience in my life. Thank You so much for sharing your very interesting life, hikes and travels. 1341 days ago

HOLLYM48
Hi Claire- what a beautiful way to spend a weekend! Great pictures of the castle, love the reflection on the water and the butterfly and viola's- so beautiful. You have such a wonderful talent of capturing such beauty regardless of what it is!I am so happy for you that Spring has finally come to Paris. Lucky you. I hope it isn't too far behind for us here. Enjoy Egypt and please do capture it for us so we can go along with you!Have a wonderful week. I hope you have a great trip and hopefully the pollution in Egypt wont be too bad this time of year.Take care, Hugs, Holly Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting on the new photo I posted!